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garden:seed-starting

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🌱 Garden: Seed-Starting (2026 Plan)

This page documents the full 2026 seed-starting and planting schedule for Sanford, NC (Zone 7b/8a), including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, beans, peas, squash, and timing for all stages.

Overview

  • Location: Sanford, NC — Zone 7b/8a
  • Indoor Starts: Tomatoes, peppers, onions
  • Direct Sown: Cucumbers, beans, peas, zucchini, yellow squash

Main Beds / Areas

  • Tomatoes → *2 beds (4×8 each)*
  • Peppers → *1 bed (4×8)*
  • Onions → *1 row or dedicated 4×8 bed*
  • Cucumbers → *Edges of 2 beds on ramp trellis*
  • Beans → *Fence/trellis line*
  • Peas → *Fence/trellis line (cool season)*
  • Squash → *1 bed (4×8)*

Week-by-Week Seed Starting Schedule

January 10–25 — Start Onions Indoors

Varieties

  • Red Creole (short-day red)
  • Granex Yellow (Vidalia-type)

Seed Details

  • Start in cells or open tray
  • Trim tops weekly to 4–5“
  • Harden off early (onions tolerate cool temps)
  • Transplant late February–mid March

—

February 1–15 — Start Peppers Indoors

Varieties

  • Sweet Bells
  • Jalafuego
  • King Arthur
  • Red Knight
  • Big Bertha
  • Sweet Banana

Seed Details

  • Depth: ¼”
  • Germination: 7–14 days
  • Heat Mat: Yes (80–85°F)

—

February 15 – March 1 — Start Tomatoes Indoors

Varieties

  • Tropic
  • Amelia
  • Mountain Rouge
  • Mountain Merit
  • Celebrity
  • Roma VF
  • Mountain Magic (fence-row)

Seed Details

  • Depth: ¼“
  • Germination: 5–10 days
  • Heat Mat: Recommended (75–80°F)

—

March 10–20 — Potting Up (Indoors)

  • Move tomatoes & peppers to 4” pots
  • Tomatoes → bury stems deep
  • Peppers → do NOT bury stems deeper
  • Onions → keep trimmed; slowly reduce indoor heat

—

February 20 – March 15 — Transplant Onions Outdoors

  • Space 4–6“ apart
  • Rows 12–18” apart
  • Water deeply first 2 weeks
  • Onions are frost hardy

—

April 5–15 — Harden Off Tomatoes

  • Begin with 1–2 hours shade
  • Slowly increase sun exposure
  • Protect from wind and cold nights

—

April 10–20 — Harden Off Peppers

  • Same process as tomatoes
  • Peppers take longer → heat-loving

—

April 15–25 — Transplant Tomatoes Outdoors

  • Night temps must be ≥ 50°F
  • Install trellises before planting

—

April 25 – May 5 — Transplant Peppers Outdoors

  • Night temps must be ≥ 55°F
  • Stake immediately (bells get heavy)

—

February 10 – March 10 — Direct Sow Peas (Cool Season)

Variety

  • Oregon Sugar Pod II

Notes

  • Plant as soon as soil is workable
  • Depth: 1“
  • Perfect for your fence line
  • Heat ends production → plant early

—

April 1 – May 15 — Direct Sow Pole Beans

Variety

  • Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean

Notes

  • Depth: 1”
  • Climb up your fence or cattle panel
  • Heavy yielder
  • Can also be succession planted until July

—

April 20 – May 10 — Direct Sow Cucumbers (Round 1)

Varieties

  • Diva
  • County Fair Improved

Planting Notes

  • Depth: ½–¾“
  • Location: Base of ramp trellis

—

May 1–15 — Direct Sow Zucchini & Yellow Squash

Varieties

  • Dunja Zucchini
  • Multipik Yellow Squash

Planting Notes

  • Depth: 1”
  • Spacing: 36–40“
  • Train vertically after 12–18”

—

July 10–20 — Replant Cucumbers (Round 2)

Varieties

  • Replant Diva
  • Replant County Fair Improved

Extends cucumber harvest into fall.

Quick Timeline Overview

Month Tasks
January Start onions (10–25)
February Start peppers (1–15), sow peas (10–Mar 10), start tomatoes (15–Mar 1)
March Pot up seedlings (10–20), transplant onions (to Mar 15)
April Harden off (5–20), transplant tomatoes (15–25), sow beans (1–May 15), transplant peppers (25–May 5), sow cucumbers (20–May 10)
May Sow zucchini & squash (1–15)
July Replant cucumbers (10–20)

Final 2026 Pepper List (4×8 Bed)

Total Plants: 12

Sweet Bells (10 total)

  • 2 × Red Knight (F1)
  • 2 × King Arthur (F1)
  • 2 × California Wonder 300
  • 2 × Big Bertha (F1)
  • 2 × Sweet Banana

Jalapeños (2 total)

  • 2 × Jalafuego (F1)

Spacing

  • 18“ between plants
  • 24” between rows

Support

  • Stakes or cages
  • Bells get heavy → support early

Tomato Bed Layouts (Two 4×8 Beds)

BED A — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System

```text

BED A — 4×8 — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System 

            ← North (Back Row)
 +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
 |                                                         |
 |   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]        |
 |                                                         |
 |---------------------------------------------------------|
 |                                                         |
 |   [Mountain Magic]   [Mountain Magic]                   |
 |   [Tropic]           [Tropic]                           |
 |                                                         |
 +---------------------------------------------------------+

Spacing 

  24" between plants
  18" between rows

Trellis 

  Full-length 8 ft top bar
  1 rope/string per plant
  Weekly figure-8 wrap
  Light pruning for Roma

BED B — Determinate Slicers (NC Winners)

BED B — 4×8 — Determinate Slicers (NC Winners) 

            ← North (Back Row)
 +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
 |                                                         |
 |   [Mountain Merit]   [Mountain Merit]                  |
 |   [Mountain Merit]   [Mountain Merit]                  |
 |                                                         |
 |---------------------------------------------------------|
 |                                                         |
 |   [Mountain Fresh+]   [Mountain Fresh+]                |
 |   [Amelia F1]         [Amelia F1]                      |
 |                                                         |
 +---------------------------------------------------------+

Spacing 

  20–24" between plants
  18" between rows

Support 

  3–4 twine levels
  Shorter vertical strings

Pepper Bed (4×8) — 2026 Layout

PEPPER BED — 4×8 — Sweet Bells & Jalapeños (12 plants) 

            ← North (Back Row)
 +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
 |                                                         |
 |  [Red Knight]   [Red Knight]   [King Arthur]           |
 |  [King Arthur]  [Big Bertha]   [Big Bertha]            |
 |                                                         |
 |---------------------------------------------------------|
 |                                                         |
 |  [Sweet Banana] [Sweet Banana] [Cal. Wonder 300]       |
 |  [Cal. Wonder]  [Jalafuego]     [Jalafuego]            |
 |                                                         |
 +---------------------------------------------------------+

Spacing 

  18" between plants
  24" between rows

Squash Bed (4×8) — 2026 Layout

ZUCCHINI & YELLOW SQUASH — 4×8 BED 

 +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
 |                                                         |
 |      [Dunja Zucchini]       [Dunja Zucchini]           |
 |                                                         |
 |---------------------------------------------------------|
 |                                                         |
 |    [Multipik Yellow]       [Multipik Yellow]           |
 |                                                         |
 +---------------------------------------------------------+

Spacing 

  36–40" between plants

Training 

  Vertical after 12–18"

Cucumber Trellis Layout (Bed Edges)

CUCUMBERS — Ramp Trellis (2 Bed Edges)

Round 1 — April 20 – May 10

  1. Diva × 2
  2. County Fair Improved × 2

Round 2 — July 10 – 20

  1. Replant Diva × 2
  2. Replant County Fair × 2

Notes 

  Depth: ½–¾"
  Train immediately up trellis
  Keep lower 8–10" pruned for airflow
garden/seed-starting.1769531809.txt.gz · Last modified: by nathna
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